variants
also skunk
as in dogs
a person whose behavior is offensive to others
he's nothing but a dirty, rotten skunk
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in bombs
to defeat by a large margin
we ended up skunking them, as our goalie was able to prevent the other team from scoring a single goal
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in masters
to achieve a victory over
our football team consistently skunks our traditional rivals Thanksgiving after Thanksgiving
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stings
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
unwilling to let suppliers skunk him, the restaurant owner inspected every shipment before signing off on it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of skunks
Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 6 Feb. 2026
At night, the desert comes alive with coyote howls, prowling skunks and the possibility of larger cats or black bears nearby.
—Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Baby skunks, known as kittens, are born in May and June.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 4 Feb. 2026
The critters who drop in or call the space home range from monarch butterflies, ladybugs and lizards to hummingbirds and bushtits, skunks, opossums and even the occasional mountain lion.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Jan. 2026
Thiols are responsible for the distinctive aromas of skunk spray and ripe durian; they’re also added to natural gas to provide a detectable rotten-egg smell at even trace levels.
—Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
Some owls will hunt the wildlife that raids our garbage cans, like skunks and opossums.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2026
The virus has also proved fatal to foxes and skunks in Kansas that likely ate something infected, Hesting said.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 17 Dec. 2025
Further research into the donor's medical history learned that the donor had received a scratch from a skunk in October 2024.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 11 Dec. 2025
Noun
But toads and frogs are also prey animals for owls, hawks, skunks, opossums, and raccoons.
—Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 6 Feb. 2026
At night, the desert comes alive with coyote howls, prowling skunks and the possibility of larger cats or black bears nearby.
—Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Baby skunks, known as kittens, are born in May and June.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 4 Feb. 2026
The critters who drop in or call the space home range from monarch butterflies, ladybugs and lizards to hummingbirds and bushtits, skunks, opossums and even the occasional mountain lion.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Jan. 2026
Thiols are responsible for the distinctive aromas of skunk spray and ripe durian; they’re also added to natural gas to provide a detectable rotten-egg smell at even trace levels.
—Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
Some owls will hunt the wildlife that raids our garbage cans, like skunks and opossums.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2026
The virus has also proved fatal to foxes and skunks in Kansas that likely ate something infected, Hesting said.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 17 Dec. 2025
Further research into the donor's medical history learned that the donor had received a scratch from a skunk in October 2024.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 11 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skunks
Noun
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Fire crews quickly confined and extinguished the blaze, however, searchers found three dogs dead, Bosse said.—
Jennifer Edwards Baker,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
9 Feb. 2026
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Two young children and two dogs were killed as a result of a house fire Sunday in Jackson, Michigan, the Jackson Fire Department said.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Page Six gets a Hollywood edition Papps declined last week to reveal what stories his reporters were chasing and what bombs the political columnists will throw in its first editions.—
Christopher Weber,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
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If Venezuela and its region instead spiral into chaos and suffering, Trump will merely look like a bully, a president who cowers when facing the mighty — in Moscow or Beijing, say — but bombs those who can’t return fire, whether in Nigeria, Yemen or Venezuela.—
Andreas Kluth,
Boston Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Stylist Chrissy Rasmussen masters the layered medium-length look on clients.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
20 Dec. 2025
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Bette Davis masters a rare light comedy turn as Sherry's long-suffering secretary, with Jimmy Durante as a visitor from Broadway and Wizard of Oz (1939) good witch Billie Burke as the overwhelmed matriarch of the Stanley clan.—
Gwen Ihnat,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Of Iran’s many squandered possibilities, the waste of our soft power stings the most.—
Arash Azizi,
Time,
3 Feb. 2026
-
This stings less thanks to the healthy variety of all-timers currently in the field.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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When a dog repeatedly wags and whips its tail against hard surfaces, the tip can split open, bruise or break.—
Miriam Fauzia,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Jan. 2026
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Benbrook whips Diamond Hill-Jarvis Benbrook stayed on pace for a playoff berth in District 8-4A as the Lady Bobcats thumped Fort Worth Diamond Hill-Jarvis 55-7.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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If New England defeats the Seattle Seahawks, Vrabel will become the first person to ever win a Super Bowl as both a player and a head coach for the same franchise.—
Chad Graff,
New York Times,
8 Feb. 2026
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Gold Coast League co-champions Brentwood and Crossroads have already met twice and could meet a third time in the second round of the Division 1 playoffs if Brentwood defeats Fairmont Prep and Crossroads defeats Long Beach Poly.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Inspired by real stories, Eva Marcille portrays a wife who miraculously cheats death after her husband’s (Tyler Lepley) betrayal in Pushed Off a Plane and Survived airing on February 28.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
30 Jan. 2026
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Blashill wants the Blackhawks to be a fast-pressure team at both ends of the rink, one that attacks vertically but never cheats for offense.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The results will show young women who look an awful lot like circus clowns, with faces hidden under layers of masks, gels, serums, and even face tape.—
Jana Pollack,
Parents,
31 Jan. 2026
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What awaits you is an emotional journey through family, death, grief, memory, hope, and tears that also features clowns – yes, clowns!—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Skunks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skunks. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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